I own nothing. Least of all this.

1:6

I've gotta say, that story has got to be the biggest whopper I have ever told.

Oh, it had some truth in it, you can be sure of that. The truth of the Doctor, and the meaning of his Name, for instance. But the rest was made up by yours truly on the spot.

As far as I knew, there were absolutely no monsters on my Earth (well, aside from the human ones). Time Lords or Witchers either, for that matter. They were all just things in my head, memories of books, shows, movies, and whatever else the human race could dream up. They were a reflection of the true face of humanity, nothing more.

But I had needed them. I had needed them to weave a character the Doctor would understand. Not agree with, but empathize with. I had needed the Doctor to see himself as what another version of him might have become, and then to listen to what that version had to say. Had I changed the future for the better? Probably not. Time has inertia. Things tended to happen the way they had already happened. But at the very least, I had made the Doctor stop. Just for a second, but stop he did.

Was I secretly hoping I had impressed him? I don't think so. Scared him? A little. Fear is good. Fear makes companions of us all. Mostly, I just hoped that I had taught him. Taught him that sometimes the right way should be easy for you, and hard on all who would think about following.

I sighed, and put down my cup. It was empty. I picked up the kettle. Empty as well. I sighed again. Time to bring up topsails and clear up this mess.

Seven minutes and three Jammie Dodgers later (never throw out a Jammie Dodger, it's just not right), the TARDIS floor was clean again. Just in time, too. The clatter of feet on the stairs behind me heralded the return of the bow tie.

I turned to look.

"Well, well, well. Color me surprised. Turns out you can clean up nicely. What do you think, Old Girl?"

A *Bu-Wheep* from the console.

"Looks like She agrees. You look good, Doc."

He straightened his tie."Oh, you know, always gotta put on a show for Pond."

I snorted. "Ain't that the truth."

I reached over, and turned the screen around to face him. "Looks like you've got less than two minutes left. You can do loads in two minutes."

He cleared his throat. "Yes, yes you can. But there's something I have to tell you first... Thank you."

It was my turn to blink. "For what?"

"For the tea. And for, well, everything else really. It always helps to hear things from another perspective. But, before I go, I have a question to ask. Just the one. An important one."

I glanced at the screen. "You've got enough time. Shoot."

He nervously rubbed his hands. "You said that people, well, me… you said I sear the souls of those around me. I need to know… did I, or was I, maybe, perhaps, your version of me.. Was he the one who seared yours?"

Okay, I wasn't expecting that.

How to answer….

I began slowly. "I think… it's safe to say you had a hand in it. But.. there were others. Other faces. Other names. Yours was the first, true. But I only saw you, or at least my version of you, once." Technically true. I once met David Tennant at a Comic-Con. "I think I understand what you're really asking: are people like me, made by those like you? Do good men make their own demons? Or something to that effect."

He nodded. "Something like that."

"...I'd have to say, at least partially, yes. But in the end, it's still a choice. You can choose to take a life, or not. You can choose to tear your soul, or let someone else tear theirs. I think, what really makes the difference is, which do you ask first: how do I bring peace, or how do I end the war. And who can say which is better: to try to be a good man, or to make it easier for others to be one."

I watched my words sink into his mind. Hopefully, they stuck somewhere.

Finally, he spoke again. "I see. And thank you, once again."

I stuck out my hand. "The pleasure was all mine, Doctor. And who knows? Maybe, someday, I'll catch you on the Flip Side."

He smirked, and shook my hand. "One can only hope. Witcher."

"Doctor."

He smiled, and leaned back. "So, what now."

"Well, for you, the universe. For me, I have no idea. Much better that way."

"Of course."

"The engines should be starting up right about…"

VWHOOOOSH.

"...now."

"Please tell me I land facing the right way."

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

"Not really. Much better that way."

"Of course."

VWHOOOOSH.

"There's an old Irish saying on my Earth, Doctor. Seems appropriate for now. 'Goodbye my friend. I'll see you in Glocca Morra.'"

A look of confusion crossed his face. "And, where, exactly, is Glocca Morra?"

VWHOOOOSH.

"Well, you see, it's always somewhere…over there."

VWHOOOOSH.

He was fading fast now, but his grin was still crystal clear. "See you in Glocca Morra, then."

VWHOOOOSH.

He was flickering rapidly now, and so was…. Huh. Only the engines were flickering along with him.

VWHOOOOSH.

Oh.

Oh no.

VWHOOOOSH.

It was a reverse Time Crash.

I had altered the timeline of the TARDIS, and now there were two separate versions both vying for existence.

VWHOOOOSH.

Thank goodness I remembered the short.

First, the supernova.

VWHOOOOSH.

Done.

Now the black hole.

VWHOOOOSH.

I could still barely see the Doctor, his movements matching mine almost exactly. Good to know he had realized the situation, because there was absolutely no way this would work if only one version of the TARDIS exploded.

VWHOOOOSH.

I reached for the last lever, and pulled it. As I did, I felt the barest sense of pressure, as if someone else's hand were in mine.

VWHOOOOSH.

The Doctor's form faded from view completely, his hand still resting on the exact same lever as mine.

VWHOOOO-OOOOSH.

Silence.

He was gone.

"Whew. That was too close for comfort, eh Old Girl?"

KA-BOOOOOOOOOM.

"...Sometimes, I should just keep my mouth shut."